KOT call for disbandment of Kenya Copyright Board after more data theft exposé surface

Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) are running a hashtag #DisbandKECOBO after more evidence of data theft allegations surfaced. “The moribund body called KECOBO is demanding metadata of CMOs including members IDs and phone numbers as a prerequisite for getting licenses to operate. This is akin to asking media houses or SACCOs to provide personal data of their employees. That's not the work of Govt’, MCSK CEO Ezekiel Mutua tweeted. Ezekiel Mutua, CEO, Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) KECOBO’s Executive Dirtector Edward Sigei has been bought by Liberty Afrika Technologies and has been pressuring Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) to hand over their client’s (read artistes, performers, musicians) data to create a National Rights Registry (NRR). Sources say, Liberty Afrika has already captured data from the Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK). PRISK CEO Dr Joseph Njagi took a Sh2 million loan from Liberty Afrika’s Sidney Wachira and has failed to pay the loan leading to court case. Dr Njagi handed over the data to appease both Sigei and Wachira, however, the court case continues. Further Dr Njagi is accused of stealing Sh2 million from the collective funds of the CMO’s. https://nyakundireport.com/the-e-citizen-connection-how-kecobo-is-masterminding-data-theft-for-private-gain/ The corrupt Njagi is believed to have taken the money to repay Wachira but failed to do so. He is now being held hostage by two sides, KECOBO and Liberty Afrika. The request for data from MCSK, PRISK and KAMP is illegal as it goes contrary to section 25 of the Data Protection Act which states, “Every data controller or data processor shall ensure that personal data is processed in accordance with the right to privacy of the data subject.” In a long statement, MCSK CEO Ezekiel Mutua castigated KECOBO for disobeying court orders. “Your purported decision to deny MCSK a license as well as your unilateral, draconian and illegal orders for MCSK to cease collections is laughable, null and void and amounts to abuse of office and contempt of Court Order,” his statement said in part. He said the MCSK has moved to court over the denial of license on illegal grounds. “We have instructed our lawyers to take the necessary action regarding this matter”. He accused Edward Sigei of having a personal gain in the request for data from CMOs. “In the fullness of time, your constant interference with CMO operations, your conflict of interest in the operations of CMOs for your own personal gain will be made bare. We have reports of solicitation of bribes and conflict of interest that makes you want to introduce a new licensing system,” Mutua wrote. Last week, the board chairperson of Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) aired similar sentiments. https://nyakundireport.com/kamp-exposes-kecobos-unreasonable-illegitimate-and-illegal-demands/   More on the issue and statement from Ezekiel Mutua https://twitter.com/mawiadoro/status/1617457561694781441?s=20&t=2H7gesjMoD6Eqhc_8Gl89A https://twitter.com/itskiplagat/status/1617457752325988352?s=20&t=2H7gesjMoD6Eqhc_8Gl89A https://twitter.com/dismus__ke/status/1617457729878065153?s=20&t=2H7gesjMoD6Eqhc_8Gl89A https://twitter.com/pinto_demorest/status/1617450112493711362?s=20&t=2H7gesjMoD6Eqhc_8Gl89A MCSK - Ezekiel Mutua Statement   MCSK - Ezekiel Mutua Statement MCSK - Ezekiel Mutua Statement